Revival at Asbury? A Theological Reflection

Here I share my thoughts about revival, responding to the recent events happening at Asbury University.

Truth Unites is a mixture of apologetics and theology, with an irenic focus.

Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai.

SUPPORT:

FOLLOW:

MY ACADEMIC WORK:

PODCAST:

DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM

CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:

00:00 Introduction
01:33 1. Why This is Exciting
08:55 2. What is Revival?
13:26 3. Theological Principles of Revival
13:34 a) Prayer is the Key
15:29 b) Spiritual Fruit is the Test
18:56 c) Keeping the Focus on Christ
20:19 4. Revivals in Church History
20:57 2nd Great Awakening
25:24 Welsh Revival of 1904-05
28:26 Wheaton Revival of 1970
35:07 Revival Isn't Weird
37:58 Let's Pray for Revival

[MRBosnoyan]

Gavin,

Initially, I intended to skip over this video… but something told me to watch it. Now I’ve been crying for 40 minutes and 50 seconds.

May the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, breathe new life into us all!

Love and prayers from Japan!

[OldThingsPassAway]

Gavin, might I say you are the very first Reformed person who I have seen endorsing the Revival at Asbury. I spent several hours today watching the live footage of what is going on there and I am totally 100% sold it is the real thing! I hope it spreads to our church! We have a very small congregation of less than 50 people, but my people there have heard me pray for revival in prayer meetings and such. I love how God answers His people. May the Revival bless the whole US and beyond!

[BurningHearts]

I’m with you Gavin! Great video! Much needed. I was saved in 1971 as a direct result of the revivals at Asbury and Wheaton and other in places in 1970.

[TestifyApologetics]

Thank you for this take. I've seen so much cynicism which I've found surprising and disheartening and this was a breath of fresh air.

[marcuswilliams]

Shepherding our hearts away from cynicism. Yes.

[margarettownley]

Gavin, I don't know how you do it, but you always leave me with such great reassurance that it is possible to be both hopeful and careful, without wantonly falling for every hype that passes us by, nor falling conversely into a pit of cynicism. Thank you.

[evangarrett]

Thanks so much for this video Gavin. I don't see this kind of careful positivity much in the reformed crowd but I feel you model it very well. Please, anyone who reads this, pray for revival in the German church.

[meghanyoung]

Thank you, Gavin. I have been reluctant to look into this Revival, probably out of fear of later disappointment. But when I saw you commenting on it, I felt like this was a safe way to acquaint myself with it.

[redeemedzoomer]

Well-thought perspective, Gavin! I would be interested in talking to you about how to revive the MAINLINE Churches, as that's a project I'm working on. God bless!

[wesleyrocks]

Thanks Gavin. So pleased you have spoken. You ae a trusted voice for so, so many reasons. I'm with you Gavvo!

[mikeneglia]

Thanks for putting this together Gavin. I was brought to Christ in the very early days of an outpouring at my high school in Fallbrook, California back in 2000. It was student-led, worshipful, Bible-studying movement that involved a small group gathering together for prayer and worship before the school bell rang every morning, and encompassed a larger lunch-break worship and verse-by-verse Bible study every day for nearly an entire academic year. Deeply appreciative of that time in my life, May the Lord be pleased to do it a million times over amongst the youth and older generations today!

[xenofongrigoriadis]

Thanks a lot for sharing the account of your grandparents. It's so moving. Let's pray for our time.

[ProfYaffle]

This is why you have to not focus solely on one type of YT ministry. Your work on Catholocism is so needed, but I would not want to be without these gems. Thank you, Gavin

[KingdomIsNow]

This is such an uplifting clip. It is balanced, encouraging, and full of love. Thank you.
I am so glad that the college principal is not allowing celebrity figures to disrupt the revival meetings. He is meticulously keeping the focus on Christ, respecting God's order, and carefully guarding his sheep. Unlike the way influential famous leaders let the sheep down, confused, and deeply hurt at the Lakeland mess.

[TimothyAndrewHolman]

Current Wheaton College student. Please pray for the college and the student body for authentic revival as it feels like the administration is really trying to almost engineer and force revival upon us.

[stevehoke]

Brother Gavin: Such a thoughtful and sensitive reflection. Thanks for taking the time to share your heart and affirming cautions to us. I was your father's roommate in college, and also a football teammate. Bud--at that time--was my best friend! It is so affirming to see you, Dane and your fam members are going deeper! Go under the Spirit! Steve Hoke

[RitaRimkiene]

Thank you very much. Your reflection is very good and encouraging. Praying for God to move across the nations.

[iwillforeverpraisethee]

Amen! May His Transforming Spirit continue to move upon Us! Thank you Jesus!

[sk]

This is a well considered analysis. We need the Holy Spirit's work because we've become so stagnant in many ways.

[HiHoSilvey]

Speaking of lasting fruit, Jonathan Edwards tells the story of a four year old girl saved during the Great Awakening. Her parents would hear her crying out to God in the closet. It was reported that when she was in her 80s, she was still following Christ. Fascinating!